Rolex … Walter “Wally” Schirra After the combined Gemini VIa & VII spaceflight mission, the 4 astronauts were awarded a Rolex GMT-master 1675 “pepsi” bezel pilot watch during a ceremony at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis – Maryland. While Walter Schirra, James Lovell and Thomas Stafford were Naval Academy graduates, US Air Force Major Frank Borman also got a Rolex GMT-master around that time via the US Military Academy West Point. During 1967, Schirra, Lovell and Borman often wore their GMT-master pilot watch during NASA training. Late 1966 onwards, we see Schirra developed a keen interest in Rolex watches, as besides NASA spacesuit training, he was always wearing his GMT-master or even a Rolex Daytona 6240 chronograph. He has always been a wrist watch aficionado as we know he at least wore a dozen different watches between April 9, 1959 and November 25, 1969. Photo shows Wally Marty Schirra signing a plaque at the North American Rockwell Space Division plant in Downey California. (Photo: NAR/NASA)
